This self-monitoring tool can help manage the challenge of effects from HMD that vary from day to day. We can practice good self-care and also help those who care about us if we develop the habit of assessing ourselves each morning and communicating our “score” to others. Here’s a scoring system that you can adapt for yourself and download to print:
Level of Pain |
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Low | Moderate |
High |
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Amount of Sleep | Fully rested |
A |
B |
C |
Some sleep |
B |
C |
D |
|
Little sleep |
C |
D |
F |
Score |
Circumstances |
Implication |
A | Feel good; well-rested; relatively pain free | May be tempted to walk further or stand longer than is really comfortable, so need to monitor self in order not to over-extend |
B | Somewhat rested; pain low to moderate | Able to handle everyday tasks without negative consequences if stop walking or standing while still in comfort zone |
C | Not very rested; likely to have difficulties | Need to be selective about activities that involve walking or standing |
D | Not very rested; pain may interfere with concentration & produce irritability | Need to be careful not to overextend or to be cranky inappropriately with others |
F | Not very rested; pain intense; pain will interfere with concentration & result in irritability | Need to restrict walking & standing as much as possible; consider rescheduling activities to another day |